What is a Police Gazette?
Compiled to be distributed amongst the Police Force only, Police Gazettes
contain details and information that can not be found anywhere else. Produced at
regular intervals (usually once a week), it was a way of making information
available to all in the Police Force throughout the whole state.
What
information can be found in a New South Wales Police Gazette?
The information contained in the Police Gazettes does vary a little from
year to year, but overall you will find details of any changes within the police
force which are all listed (promotions, demotions, discharges, resignations,
deaths), information is also given on housebreak-ins, robberies, arson, murders,
arson, rewards, warrants issued, lists of arrests and discharges, lost horses
and cattle, deserters from services and from families, escaped prisoners,
missing friends, lost and found items, and reports on those released. Notices
from interstate police gazettes are usually included if it was felt that the
person may be heading towards that state.
How can this help me?
Anyone researching their family will have a 'lost' family member or two! You
may well find them listed here, being on either side of the law. Or maybe they
were a Policeman who transferred to another department or division, or someone
that was a victim of a crime. You can find the physical details on persons
listed here, missing, wanted or released, which helps to paint a picture of them
(name, aliases used, age, height, colour hair, colour eyes, distinguishing
features, even colour clothing worn).
Far from being just a unique and extremely fascinating resource for local,
family and social historians - they are useful for anyone with an interest in
New South Wales in 1870. The CD contains all issues that were released during
that year.
Example entry taken from the 6 April 1870 issue:
Deserting Wives and Families, Service, &c.
Warrants have been issued by the Grafton Bench for the arrest of James and
Winifred Austen, charged with absconding from the hired service of E.D.S.
Ogilvie, on the 31st January last. James Austen is described as very tall,
rather thin, short dark beard and moustache mixed with gray, walks very
erect, and has the manner and bearing of a soldier. Winifred Austen is
middle-aged, medium size, low forehead, dark hair mixed with gray, aquiline
nose, and arched eyebrows. Supposed to have gone to Sydney. £1 reward for
their apprehension.
